The Maine SEO Blog

It’s funny how something like a flu strain can cause such a ruckus in search.

Google Search

Google Insights for search gives some really helpful data – including the recent trends in the “flu” category. Below the graph, you’ll find “rising searches”, which is great for brainstorming hot keywords for copy or blogging.

Twitter

Twitter search gives real time hot topics – whether it’s an epidemic or hashtag glorification.

Facebook

Facebook groups and fan clubs are the perfect spot to find out what’s hot now.

YouTube

You don’t have to go searching far for that latest videos and newscasts on the swine flu from YouTube.

iPhone

Even iPhone apps are getting a new addition via IntuApps.

Nicki Hicks
The bacon phenomenon has finally caught up with us

Mobile searches are becoming the norm, not the exception.  Optimizing for mobile as well as computer browsers is becoming a necessity, not a choice.  So what can you do to increase your mobile visibility?

1. Install Google Webmaster Tools. They’ll be able to tell you right off the bat whether or not your site can be accessed via smart phones.



2. Optimize for Local Search. Now that GPS is replacing the need to have physical map books, and most of us can no longer function without it (myself included), it’s crucial to be found.



3. Have easy-to-access contact information. Always include your contact information both on your site (in the footer is the cleanest place) and in your meta-description so that mobile searchers can click to either email or call you directly from the SERP!



4. Upload your videos to YouTube. Sometimes, smart phones have trouble indexing and loading large sites that don’t already have a specially equipped smart phone counterpart. By uploading a YouTube video, you guarantee that your site can be accessed via mobile devices; plus be found on YouTube!



5. Create an App. Apps are expensive to develop.  However, they get your name out there the second they’re created!

Nicki Hicks
I’m not craving pizza or anything

Twitter is a useful resource that can be used for nearly every business in nearly any industry.  One of the most common questions I get is “How do I use Twitter?”

For starters…

Have a personality. People love knowing there is a real live person behind the face of a company – which is one of the reasons why Twitter is so successful. You can be sarcastic, witty, and funny or serious, helpful, and professional or thought provoking and conversational…whatever you are!

Share what you’re doing – and why not incorporate other media like video or images? Engaging followers via video is just another cool way to create a conversation.

Create special Twitter contests - using coupons, codes, or whatever pertains to your line of business. Customers will be happy to save money simply by paying attention to their Twitter feeds!

Pose a question. Not only will you get answers faster than searching for them, questions help engage your followers!

Provide quick and effective customer service. Twips will love the fact that they can get a quick question answered by you – especially in a large corporation like LL Bean:

Give advice. Everyone appreciates a free tip from the experts.

Watch what people are saying about you with Twitter Search.

How Twitter Helps Search

Create links back to blogposts, articles, or your website!

Rank in Google for your Twitter account.

Create buzz with retweets (RT) and more tweets.

The reality is Twitter can be effective for nearly every business owner.  The idea is to engage your customers with your personality, business, and what you offer that differentiates you.

Nicki Hicks
Maine Tweeting for Business

Strange GA Issue #1

Today, I recieved the following email from a client:

Hi Nicki,
When I look at the web site with IE8 built-in developer tools, it shows the error  ‘_gat’ is undefined  when viewing on the script tab.

After brainstorming with some of the developers here, we soon realized the problem was with Google Analytics.  The page, it seems, is loading too fast!  That seems to be the bulk of the issue, coupled with the fact that Internet Explorer 8 has been released.  It might be a good idea to start dropping IE 6 for good, with two other versions of IE available.

Strange GA Issue #2

Last week, I met with another client to do some Google Analytics training.  One of my favorite GA tools is the site overlay: which shows how people behave on your website.

However, when showing the client just how cool site overlays are, GA decided against showing us the overlay.  All we could see was their website – no overlay.  Checking severall days later proved to bring up the overlay correctly.  I’ve seen this happen before with other sites – where GA is finnicky about what it shows.  What gives??

Nicki Hicks
GA Detective

Link building is all about building relationships: approaching a blogger or webmaster and literally saying “Hi, this is what I offer. I think you might be interested” is all it takes (with a little more flattery and the personal touch, of course).

As a Search Engine Marketer, it’s apart of my job to “court” bloggers and webmasters and establish links for clients. Once I’ve established that relationship, what’s to say the client can’t go ahead and maintain it? With the proper training, strategy, and ongoing consulting, it’s very doable! With that in mind, let’s define two very different types of clients:

1. Small business with a small budget

In this case, I would much rather put tools in place to help the company build relationships in-house.  As the SEO, I could establish link relationships for the company, then see the client succeed in continuing to build onto that relationship after training.
So what we would do is:

• Identify appropriate websites/bloggers/webmasters to pursue for links
• Submit clients’ articles to the right article distribution and buzz sites

Meanwhile…

• The client writes quality blogs and articles that are both more keyword rich and will result in the possibility of more comments and backlinks
• We train the client to leave thought provoking comments on blogs
• We train the client to continuously be searching for inspiration, “hot” new topics, and bloggers to court

2. Business with less time and more budget

This client is, more likely, a larger business with no extra time or manpower to build link building relationships. They have a larger budget, and are willing to use it. In this case, we’d be more than happy to keep poking and prodding for continual link building.

Since we deal with so many small businesses, we understand the fact that marketing budgets have decreased due to the current economic environment. Sometimes, educating clients and giving them the right tools is the perfect solution.

Nicki Hicks
Linking in Tough Times

Photo by oooh.oooh